Merry Christmas!

I hope that you and your loved ones will have a great holiday season. During this time of year we often look for things to do as a family. Remember that there is no better place to be than on a farm.

Food Safety Education and Planning for Agritourism Providers Webinar

Wednesday, December 14, Noon to 1pm
Free -- open to all interested

Hosted by: Lisa Chase, Londa Nwadike, and Ben Amsden
University of Vermont Extension and the Plymouth State University Center for Rural Partnerships

Understanding the latest in food safety is essential for farmers who sell products directly to consumers. This webinar will present the latest in food safety and food-based risk management issues specifically aimed at those involved in agritourism, including u-pick operations, farm stands, CSAs, prepared meals, and other activities where visitors and food come together on a farm. Whether you are a farmer or an Extension educator supporting farmers, the webinar will provide up-to-date information, best practices, and future directions in risk management and food safety in agritourism.

To access the webinar, please follow this link five minutes before the webinar begins:

https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2009421&password=M.3979AA011F410B2D15F77266B1F3FD


For technical assistance during the webinar, contact Jessie Schmidt at (866) 860-1382, ext. 203 (Vermont calls only) or (802) 223-2389, ext. 203, E-mail: jessica.a.schmidt@uvm.edu

Contact lisa.chase@uvm.edu, londa.nwadike@uvm.edu or blamsden@plymouth.edu for more information about the webinar.

Give Farm Gifts for Christmas

Do you have hard to buy for people on your shopping list for Christmas? My special people will receive gifts from farms this year.

Let me share a few ideas: jams, jellies, cheese, wine, pecans, berries, a trip to an agritourism venture for the family, a Christmas tree,or in-season vegetables. There are many more possibilities.

Locate your farms on MarketMaker and make the right choice for your friend or loved one.

Jane Eckert Hosting a FREE Webinar on Websites

"Winning Websites Mean Business," according to Jane Eckert. Jane is offering a free webinar on Monday, December 5th at Noon EST. Click here to register. This informative webinar will provide tips on making your website easy to navigate. Jane will also share designer tricks. Don't wait, sign up today!

Caroling Hay Ride

This is the perfect time of year to bring people to the farm to enjoy the Christmas season. Why not get the hay out of the barn arrange it on your trailer and hitch up to the tractor and take people caroling through our farm. Day or night caroling can be fun.

Serve cocoa, cookies or fire up the camp fire and serve roasted hot dogs and smores. Keep the menu simple and let everyone join in the fun by preparing their own meal.

LSU dairy field day shows milk from cow to cone

At a recent LSU AgCenter Dairy Field Day, participants learned how milk becomes icecream and cheese. This is a concept that can be taught in your agritourism venture. Milk the cow, show the milk and then with students participating show how to make icecream.

Teachnet.com has a quick and easy recipe that could easily be used with students. Click here for instructions.

Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers/Agritourism/Blueberry Associations Conference and Tradeshow

Mark those calendars! The Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers/Agritourism/Blueberry Associations Conference and Tradeshow is slated for Nov. 14-16 at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, MS. The entire day of Nov. 16 is filled with opportunities to learn about agritourism. Click here for a complete agenda.

Registration and hotel information can be found on their website by clicking here.